Men’s basketball team ends season with 82-76 loss to Calvin in first round of MIAA Tournament

The Olivet College men's basketball team ended its season with an 82-76 loss to Calvin College tonight in the first round of the 2006 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament at the Calvin Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids.

The Comets (6-20) went up by as many as 10 points twice, including 25-15 with 10:34 left in the first half. The Knights (21-5) tallied 14 unanswered points to take a four-point lead, 29-25, at the 6:29 mark. The last Olivet lead of the half was 36-35 with 2:53 remaining. Calvin led 38-36 at halftime.

In the second half, the Knights stretched their lead to 16 points, 59-43, with 10:37 left in the game. The Comets came back with a 15-3 run to cut their deficit to three points at the 5:45 mark. Olivet would not get any closer for the remainder of the game.

Playing in his final collegiate game, senior Derek Kurtz (Hillsdale/Jonesville) scored a career-high 24 points for the Comets. He also dished out four assists. Seniors De'Andre Pruitt (River Rouge) and Gerald Dozie (Detroit/ Southeastern) joined him in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively. Dozie grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

The Knights were led by Caleb Veldhouse with 24 points. Andy Draayer finished with 17 points. This duo combined for a perfect 24-of-24 shooting from the free throw line. Dustin Smith contributed 11 points. Kyle Snoeyink pulled down eight rebounds.

Calvin advances to the MIAA Tournament semifinals against Kalamazoo College who beat Tri-State (Ind.) University, 61-58.